Catch-up Time

September 7, 2011

Days 74-78.  Dave hiked his last 4 days through the second half of the 100 Mile Wilderness, then up and down Mt. Katahdin.  He had sunny weather but the trail was very wet, muddy and slippery.  When he got to the top of Mt. Katahdin, it was very cold and foggy and he could see just a few feet in front of himself.  Thank goodness he had someone take a picture.

Dave broke open a single-serving bottle of Old Granddad and shared it with his 5 buddies.  He had two bottles with him, but after they passed the first one around, it was still half full!  Fishes and loaves?



Total trail miles from June 12 to September 7 = 871.  That number does not include the miles back down Katahdin, trips into towns for resupplying, side trips for water, etc. etc.
Days on the trail = 78
WOW

In Salem, MA.  Dave had his beard shaved by
a barber but had not yet had a close shave.

Dave finished on Wednesday, 9/7/11, the first day of my drive.  I drove from GA to WV, having a great day of good weather and fairly light traffic until about 5:30 pm when traffic came to a screeching halt on I-81 due to a major accident.  Fortunately, I was right next to an exit with a Hampton Inn, so I squeezed my way off and checked into the hotel.  I had gone 650 miles in 11 hours. (I make multiple stops.) The next day as I was driving from WV to MA and having the worse driving day of my life, Dave took a bus from the hostel in Millinocket to Portland, ME.  One of his hiking buddies, Pilgrim, was meeting his wife in Portland and she offered to drop Dave off in Topsfield - my destination for the evening - at Kathie Tremblay's house.

I have to digress and tell you on my second day of driving I encountered highway and surface street closings due to flooding, constant rain, sometimes so hard I couldn't see the vehicle in front of me, two major accidents that caused me to sit in the car having to pee so badly I was wishing I had some Depends with me ... and finally got to Topsfield just minutes before Dave did.  It had taken me another 11 hours to go just over 500 miles.

So, I had ONE bad day of driving and Dave hiked on the Appalachian Trail 78 days.  No comparison!

Denise and Afton in Portsmouth, NH

We originally planned to spend several days in Maine, taking a little vacation, but when Dave knew he could catch a ride to Topsfield, he jumped at the opportunity.  I never made it to Maine!  We spent Thursday evening, Friday and Saturday with Kathie, leaving Sunday morning.  Friday we went to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem (what a museum it is!) and Saturday we went to Portsmouth, NH to have lunch with Deni and Aftin.  Deni had done some research to find the best restaurant with outdoor seating - and lobster - and we thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.  We had planned to spend the night with them in Kingston, NH on our way back from Maine but everything changed when Dave hitched a ride to Massachusetts.

Dave, me, Kathie, Deni and Afton

Today, Sunday, we had a nice leisurely drive south to the Connecticut coast and spent all afternoon at Mystic Seaport.  We finally had a lobster roll at The Boathouse.

When we checked into our hotel tonight,  Dave poured the rest of the Old Granddad into two cups for a toast.  I asked if he was retiring the Old Granddad trail name. He said he was toasting the end of our long separation.  What a guy.

I think we'll be at Geoff & Betsy's tomorrow night.  I'd better call them and make sure that's okay!

DONE!!!

 Dave finished his hike today!  871 miles this summer from Port Clinton, PA to Mt. Katahdin.  Congratulations ... I'm so proud of you!

(more details as I get them)

Days 72-73 on the Trail - 800 Mile Mark

An incredible 800+ miles!!!

As of 09/02/11:
Miles in the last two days - approx. 25
Miles to date - 807.3


Dave is back in Monson for one night, and will take off for his last 55 miles Saturday morning.  He expects no cell service until he is at the top of Mt. Katahdin.  The area between Monson and Katahdin is 114.4 trail miles, known as the 100 Mile Wilderness (Dave has hiked 60 miles of it SoBo since staying at Shaw's).

Beginning of the 100 Mile Wilderness

The sign reads, "There are no places to obtain suppies or get help until Abol Bridge 100 miles north.  Do not attempt this section unless you have a minimum of 10 days supplies and are fully equipped.  This is the longest wilderness section of the entire AT and its difficulty should not be underestimated.  Good hiking."

Shaw's, the hostel where Dave camped out for 4 days pre- and post-Irene, was jam packed with other hikers stumbling in from their trials and tribulations with Irene and gearing up for their last leg in the 100 Mile Wilderness.  There are not enough bunks so many of them are sleeping in their tents in the yard.  When Dave and his gang of merry pranksters got back to Shaw's, the owners put them up in a rental house they own - very special treatment for whom I think are very special guys.  They greatly appreciated Shaw's saving rooms for them!

While hiking SoBo from where they were dropped off, they ran into the father-daughter team (Dad: Long Time and Daughter: Click who is carrying a monster camera) and the single woman A-Game who is hurrying to meet her boyfriend and starts a new job 9/6.  They were doing okay though the merry pranksters saw evidence of some of their stream crossings - "bridges" of found logs/branches rolled over the swollen streams.  They all thought how dangerous it would be if you lost your footing.  Another couple they passed included a tiny woman.  Her boyfriend had made a harness out of her jacket, tied a rope onto it and pulled her across a stream that was over her head.  Are these people suffering from hypothermia to make such decisions?  Oh well, all's well that ends well.

100 Mile Wilderness

I asked about Chainsaw.  Dave said he was staying right on his (Dave's) heels like a puppy dog.  He didn't say what caused the change of attitude.

So, Gentle Readers, this may be my last blog for several days.  Dave now hopes, if the weather holds out, to summit Katahdin on Sept. 8th (Chad's birthday!).  I leave Savannah on the 7th, will be in Topsfield MA on the 8th and Dave and I will figure out a meeting point in Maine on the 9th.  HOW EXCITING!

Days 70 - 71 on the Trail

Dave called from the top of Whitecap Mountain on Wednesday.  I didn't realize until I was googling Whitecap Mountain that he is probably within shouting distance of Kat Tremblay's ski condo. (Postscript on Saturday:  I pulled out my AAA Maine map yesterday and discovered Dave's White Cap Mtn. is not close to Kat's.  In fact, by googling more, I found at least 4 Whitecap/White Cap Mtns in Maine. If you happen to look at a AAA map, the Appalachian Trail is printed in dashes, and he was about half way between Monson and Baxter State Park.  My friend Lynn has a camp on Long Pond -- without even trying I found 3 Long Ponds. Maine is a big state amongst the little New England states.)

As of 08/31/11:
Miles in the last two days - approx. 25
Miles to date - approx. 782

Since I don't know what campground Dave hiked to, I can't be exact about the mileage, but this is close.

Hurricane Irene over Maine

He said the trail is "crappy" after all the rain from Irene and the streams are swollen but he's making steady progress.  When he first called he was getting concerned about Chainsaw.  Even though they had decided to hike together, Chainsaw was nowhere to be seen Wednesday morning.  The other hikers, Dave, Buckeye Flash, Pilgrim and Deadman saw him Tuesday afternoon, but they did not know where he pitched his tent in the evening. He did not check in with them in the morning, so after waiting a while, the hikers decided to get going.  When Dave called me, he was at a spot near the top of Whitecap, resting, waiting for Chainsaw and getting chilled.  By this time, the hikers were wondering if indeed he had left before them, or if possibly something had happened to him the previous evening.

Dave waited about another 30 minutes, then called the group that went ahead, and they had found Chainsaw.  Dave was aggravated that after agreeing to hike together for safety reasons, Chainsaw had struck out on his own without letting anyone know where he was.  I'm wondering if Dave will still be hiking with him in the next few days.  I should hear from him again tonight.

Days 66 - 69 on the Trail

Oh dear.  Between infrequent phone calls and my travel (and not taking notes), I'm having a hard time piecing together the previous week of Dave's hike.  Here's what I know for sure.

Dave had allowed 4 days to hike from Caratunk to Monson, ME, but made it in 3 days.  He checked in on Friday, August 26th.

As of 08/26/11:
Miles in the last 3 days - 37

As of 08/27/11:
Miles today: 10 a "slack pack" day
Miles to date - 757.3

By the time Dave arrived in Monson, Hurricane Irene was projected to hit NYC and continue north all the way into Maine, though the eye was supposed to be west of where Dave was staying.  He made sure he had a bunk in the bunk room for several days, as other hikers were expected to converge on the hostel and fill it up.  And they did.  Several hikers made record times trying to get to the hostel before Irene hit NE.  The trail in New Hampshire had been closed. Dave met several of them weeks ago, and now they were all caught up again.

Dave had to stay at the hostel for 4 nights.  As you can imagine, he was getting extremely restless and anxious to get going.  An unexpected benefit was that since Saturday morning was still clear, a hostel worker took him to a spot where the road crossed the trail, and Dave hiked back to the hostel, getting that extra 10 mile section done without having to carry a full pack.  That's what the hikers call a "slack pack" day. Saturday evening and Sunday morning brought rain rain and more rain thanks to Irene.   The big question for the hikers was the condition of the trail from Monson to Katahdin.

The hostel - Shaw's

On Monday, a few of the hikers decided to do what Dave had done, complete a 10-mile section by riding north then hiking south back to the hostel.  When they got back, they reported the trail was wet and muddy but doable.  The concern is crossing the creeks and streams further up the trail that are surely full and swift after all the rain.  They have heard reports of impassable streams.

While spending those 3+ days in Monson, Dave got to know a hiker whose trail name is Chainsaw (yikes).  Dave had been running into him in the previous few days, but while at the hostel they shared several meals and got chummy.  They decided they would stick together for the remaining trip.  They both know that on a muddy, slippery trail with potentially dangerous creek crossings it would be good to have a hiking buddy.  They are both on the same time schedule, too.  A few of the other hikers have also rallied around, sharing schedules so other hikers are expecting them at certain campgrounds on certain days and everyone stays safe.  These hikers include Buckeye Flash, Pilgrim and Deadman.

Not everyone is so conservative.  A father-daughter team and a single woman left Monson yesterday in a big hurry to get to Katahdin.  They want to finish the trail by Labor Day so didn't feel they could wait longer for the trail to dry out.  Dave was especially concerned about the single woman trying to cross streams by herself.  He did attempt to talk her out of leaving on Monday, but she was not to be deterred.  Her boyfriend is already in Millinocket waiting for her and she starts a new job on the Tuesday after Labor Day.  If she makes it.

Monson, Maine

Dave and Chainsaw's plan for today is to get shuttled to a point 50 miles away to a spot where the trail crosses a road, then hike south back to the hostel.  That way they can carry half the amount of food they would otherwise need if they were doing the whole 100+ miles to the Northern Terminus.  They'll spend one more night at the hostel, getting their last shower and bunk, packing the last of their food, getting dropped off at the 50-mile mark again, and hiking north to Katahdin.

Dave thinks he'll be able to call on Wednesday when he is on top of a mountain, then I expect him to be back in the hostel on Friday 9/1/11.

Me (blue kayak) with Kathleen, Jane & Elizabeth

I had a FANTASTIC time in Denver with Candy, Elizabeth, Kathleen, Anne, Mary and Jane, celebrating Vicki's birthday.  We kayaked three mornings, had spa treatments, attended a FACES concert, had a pot-luck cookout/party, drank Starbucks until my pee smelled like coffee, ate Einstein bagels, lunched at great restaurants, several of us bought new spectacles and we all laughed until our sides hurt.  My weekend was a zillion times better than Dave's, IMHO.

Days 63 - 65 on the Trail - 700 Mile Mark!

Dave made it to Caratunk on Tuesday morning.

As of 08/23/11:
Miles in the last 3 days - 31.3
Miles to date - 710.3

Can you believe Dave has hiked/climbed over 700 miles??!! He has "only" 150 miles to go to the end of the Appalachian Trail on top of Mt. Katahdin.  (Side note:  I can't tell you how often I've typed 'trial' instead of 'trail' - I think either spelling is appropriate!)

Pierce Pond Lean-to

Dave spent the night at the Little Bigelow Lean-to Sunday night after hiking 10 miles.  He was at the Pierce Pond Lean-to Monday night after hiking 17 miles!  I think that may be his record day, I'll have to look. Tuesday he had only 3.8 miles to get to Caratunk, but was aware he had to take a ferry to cross the Kennebec River and wanted to get to the ferry early, not knowing the schedule or how long it would take to get across.  He covered the 3.5 miles to the river in the early morning and was one of the first two people there.  The ferry eventually showed up -- it was a 3-passenger canoe!  Or maybe I should say 2-passengers and the 'ferry operator.'

This is the warning found in guidebooks which included the red highlights:

     "The Kennebec River is the most formidable un-bridged crossing along the entire 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail. 
     "The Kennebec is approximately 70 yards wide with a swift, powerful current under the best of circumstances. However, as a result of releases of water from hydro facilities upstream, the depth and current of the river surge quickly and unpredictably. You cannot cross faster than the water level rises.
     "Hikers will be required to sign a release form, wear a life jacket, and follow the instructions of the ferry operator. If river conditions or weather make the crossing dangerous in the judgment of the ferry operator, the service will be discontinued until conditions improve."

Many people have lost their lives over the years attempting to ford the river, so the Appalachian Trail Conference hires a paddler to ferry them.  In season, he makes 30 crossings a day.

It was just 0.3 miles into the town of Caratunk, which Dave says is nothing more than a few buildings.  The Northern Outdoor Center is 2 miles away with a few bunkrooms and a lodge with rooms and a restaurant.  Dave did not have a reservation, but since he was one of the first people off the ferry, he was able to snag the last $12/night bunk.  He heard one of the hikers trying to check in later, moaning and groaning about having to pay $107 for a lodge room.  The room included 2 double beds, a twin and a kitchenette.  The hiker was able to find others to share the room - and cost.  For a vacation, the price is reasonable, especially after seeing what it looks like.  Through-hikers just want a mattress, shower, and a place to do their laundry.  Very few can afford $100/night.

The lodge looks fantastic.  I couldn't copy pictures off their website, here's the web address of their photo gallery.  I've tried to make it a link but haven't figured it out yet.  http://www.northernoutdoors.com/site/gallery.html

Dave was happy with his bunk room, especially after having taken a 20 minute hot shower and doing his laundry.  Not at the same time.  He ate dinner at the lodge and had a couple of beers.  He was in excellent spirits but still recovering physically from his 17 mile hike. He said he won't try to go that far again, even as the trail gets easier in Maine.

Dave likes to meet and talk to Nobo (northbound) hikers, getting to know people he may be running into in the future and always looking for a good hiking companion.  He had a short conversation with one hiker in the Outdoor Center store and was leaving when a guy (obviously not a hiker) caught up with him and said, Did I hear you are from Savannah? The guy kept thinking Dave looked familiar and wanted to find out if and how he knew Dave.  Turns out his name is Bruce Bateman, lives one street away from us and has worked with Dave maintaining the decoys on the lagoons in our community!

Bruce's family has owned land in Caratunk since the 1800's.  Bruce happened to be in the Outdoor Center sending a fax when Dave walked in.  There is no cell or internet service, just landlines and Dave was using the Center's phone.  What a coincidence!  I forgot to ask Dave if Bruce will still be there after Labor Day.  We have two sets of good friends who have camps near Stratton but both of them will be gone by the time I'm getting Dave. Maine must have quite the summer season!

Dave plans to be in Monson, ME by Saturday and will have no cell service until then.  I'll be in Denver with my 6 (out of 7) Lindley cousins, celebrating Vicki's birthday.  I get home Sunday evening, so you can expect the next blog posting on Monday 8/29 at the earliest.

Day 63 on the Trail

As of 08/21/11:  No word from Dave; I'm sure there was no cell service.  He is hiking the 31+ miles from Horns Pond to Caratunk, Maine.  He should be there by Thursday at the latest.